Preserving apparatus



, C. C. E: KERSTEN PRESERVING APPARATUS Filed July 12. A1924 2 sheets-.sheet 1 July 19, 1927.

c. c. E. KERsTEN PRESERVINGv APPARATUS `2 Sheets-Stage?. Zvi' Filed July 12. 1924- Patented July 19, 1927.

UfNlfTED PATENT' erstes; i naar. CHRISTOPH oF corlinui's, GEoRGiA".

l PRnsERVrNG ArP-AnAfrU'si Application nieii-.rulyia 1924-.- serialize.#725,636.l

This invention relates togthe art of preserving, and in particular to` apparatus for treating. perishable food material, such" as vegetables, fruits, 'fruit juices,` insuchfa Way that it w-illremain in an unchanged, palatableand wholesome ,conditioniand fitfor consumption for considerabletime periods.

The object underlying. the-invention is provide means whereby the natural changes which such substances undergo at ordinary temperatures.and air conditions are utilized in conductingthe preserving steps.

My invention for such purpose comprises areceptacl'e for the material to be preserved, such receptacle being-equipped with means to permit foain'and scumVwbich-formi and rise from the material to be removed theretronr andi with means which permitv the receptacle'to be sealed against the ingressuof the outer' air after the ceased, but at the.v same' time to permit the expulsion of 4the air and. the' gases'jwhich are evolved from the body ofthe material 'foaming .staget has the natural changes therein proceed.

Means are also provided under `my invention to enable the progressv ofithisevolution ot' gases that the" process is completed andvthat the treated products arel ready for Istoring away t'or use required, to `be observed..l f

rEhe means thus outlined are embodiedL in their preferred form in the apparatus repre-- sented which:

Fig.. l is an elevation partly in' vertical centaal section of a preserving receptaclevv or jar witlrsealin'g coverun'der my invention;l

Fig'. 3, kan enlargedrdetail View in-'-vertical section oi the upper portion of the receptacle and cover;

loanisskimming Fig.` 5 v neck and cover ot' a modified form of receptacle under my inventi'oir;

Fig. (3, a similar' View of another modificatioir; Fig;

devicel inf placeY thereon saine;

Fig. 8 is alverticalY cent-ral section off still another modification under my invention, and y and `its final cessation, indicating' `in the accompanying drawings,- in

, ing outwardly and Fig.' 2, a'fperspectlve view of the cover A at the` inner Dig. 4f, a vertical central' section of the' upper orneck-portionot receptacle with the I is a vertical central sectioir offthef T being an enlarged detail view of the Figif) is an@ enlarged detail view of the sameiii-sectional.elevationify y t, y

By referring first vto- Figs. l` to vBit will be, seen that tliereceptacle A, which-in the present instance is in the form ofja` jar of any. suitable orv desirablev material,,sucfh` as earthen ware, glass orr metal,- and which may beef any desircth Vsize'and capacity,' is provided at-itsmouth with anannulartrough or groove a formed by the'two annular-gupwardlyextending lips bf-and c, respectively, forming theupivard termination of thewalls (l `ofthe receptacle. As shown,y the inner rim c issoinewhat higher than the' outerrim J), extending above thesamea small distance.

For *closingl the mouth of?l receptacle A, a coverfor closure c`apE.-is provided, saidfcover or cap having an annulardepending `frange orf-rim c; The flange@ isarranged sothat it will-dipinto the, annular trouglror groove' a, extending; {toyV the bottom of `the same,v but only partially filling out said groove,rtl1ereby leaving lateral spaces` oni bot'li sidesl to'` containl a sealing liquid.,L

aventl inthe shape of anupwardly; tapering notch, preferably triangular in= shape;v As:- shown in Figs. 2',- fand 9, the'notch yisflarthe. top'lor apex of this notch is upwardly and' outwardly inclined so as tobefhighr atl the outer point g. than point` g2, for hereinafter explained-i` Asillu'strated in Fig. et", my inventiony also 'contemplates the provision loi" a device which term a. ,scum-trap" in connection with ythe receptacle A?, `and whose purposey isV to Vrc-` ceivegcoll'ect andi retain the froth and scum which `VJform andare forccdupward when certain processes occur inthe'intcrior ot :the receptacle, as wilhbeexplained below. This scum-trap' comprises aI skimmer and a check plate for same. 'llhe'skimmer H concists'in a: dished or conical"receiving,platex It having acentralopeninglz. and ay dovmwardlyv` tending annularfiange 7a2 adapted to ci sely fit within the inner flange of the receptacle;l

side of the-cover,andy converge f a ypurpose* to be* The cap: E in; the in- V stance shown rests with the interior surface? llU A, and a second annular flange 7a3 which is arranged to dip into the annular trough or groove t of the receptacle and within a short distance of its bottom, as shown. rlhe check plate consists of a somewhat (lished plate h4 of a size suicient to cover the central opening L of the receiving plate when in position. For convenience in handling the check plate is formed with a handle r". For the purpose of allowing the liquid forced up with the scum and froth to drain back into the receptacle A, the plate r is provided with perforations 7L, as shown, or is reticulate or open-work in any desired or suitable manner.

The apparatus thus described may be employed for various purposes, but is designed primarily for use in preserving lield and garden products, such as vegetables and fruits or fruit juices, in a manner not heretofore known. The manner in which I treat them with the aid of this apparatus is to permit them to undergovat ordinary temperature and without artificial heat such initial changes as naturally take place in them, with complete exclusion of the outer air and the germs, spores and bacteria carried by the same, to completely eliminate the and other matters generated during the course of such process and to arrest further changes after the said initial changes have fully terminated.

Described in detail, my mode of proceeding with the aid of my apparatus is as follows:

When the material to be preserved or stabilized for consumption has been properl)7 filled into receptacle A, the skimmer H is adjusted in place on the neck of the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the inner flange h2 fits within the rim c and the outer flange h3 dips into the annular which is to be lled from l@ to 1/2 its height with a suitable sealing liquid, such as glycerine. Thereceptacle is then closed oit' against access of germs. and dust from the outer air by any suitable means, such as a sheet of cheesecloth. impermeable cloth or other textile material. The receptacle so equipped and filled is then allowed to stand. It., on the day following, foam and scum have formed on the surface of the contents of receptacle, spreading themselves over the receiving plate r, the check plate h4 is introduced and passed below such foam and scum so as to cover the central opening 7L of the skimmer, whereby the return of foam and scum into the receptacle will be prevented while permitting the liquid carried up thereby to return thereinto through the perforations 71,0. The check plate h4 is preferably inserted under the foam on the receiving plate h when the foam is beginning to sink.

lVhen the formation of foam and scum has ceased and the same have settled, and

trough a also inthe case of no .generation of foam and scum, the skimmer and check plate are removed and any foam and scum that may be on the surface of the contents are removed, whereupon the cap E, which is to be previously sterilized, is arranged in place on the receptacle as indicated in Fig. l and Fig. 3, the annular groove L being sulficiently full of sealing liquid, such as glycerine, to cause its level to rise to near the top of the rim b when the fiange e is in place in the said groove a.

' The gases generated in the contents of the receptacle due to the changes going on therein and the air still left within the saine now serve to press on the sealing liquid in the trough, so that its level descends to the point gwithin the fiange e and to the top of rim b outside thereof, as indicated in Fig. 3. The pressure within continuing, first the upper layer of air and thereupon the gases will pass and travel Vfrom the highest point of the receptacle along the grooves into the inner part of the trough a and thence through the notch in the form of bubbles which travel upward along the upwardly and outwardly inclined apex g2 g and thence into the atmosphere through the sealing liquid, as indicated in Fig. 3.

v The described form of the notch or vent serves to direct the escape of the gases to a single point of the apparatus and it serves to release the gases in small quantities and at rapid intervals, thereby preventing sudden and jerky flinging out and splashing of the sealing liquid and also permitting the progress of the gas evolution, and thereby the preservative changes going on in the mass, to be more accurately observed and the end of the operation to be mort` correctly determined than without this vent formed as described and arranged at one point of the apparatus.

By making the triangular notch flaring outwardly and forming the apex of the same so as to incline upwardly and outwardly, as at g g2, as best shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 6 and 7, the advance of the gas bubbles as they issue from the receptacle is accurately directed and their movement is accelerated, the buoyant action of the sealing liquid thereby cooperating with the pressure within said receptacle to establish a uniform and steady ow of the line of bubbles.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide the depending rim or flange of a jar, cover or lid with a series of semicircular-notches arranged around the entire periphery of the rnn. But such notches arranged and formed in this way were designed for the purpose of anchoring or securing the lid or cover against rotation in a congealed or solidified sealing liquid poured into the annular trough engaged by the depending rim. Such a multiplicity of notches was not deigea-moei signed for, the purpose of"applicantslinven tion; nor,-indeed, could it operate for such purpose. Villien used in connection with a sealing? liquid the'eft'ect would. be that, before the pressure over the contents of the receptacleto which ,suclr cover were applied would attain the' degree necessary forfpreserving purposes, the gases-would be ejected therefrom in a jerky manner.` preventing any l accu late observations fromv being made, andin most cases would soon cause the sealing liquid to be splashed out of the trough and thereby defeat not only the observation of tl'ieprogressv ofthe operation, but the preserving process also.

I have found that' such process cannot be conducted and that such observations cannot be madeif a number of notches on the entire periphery of the cover-flange are made, and that accurate' observations can only beniade if substantially a single notch at one point of the rim is formed, and preferably that such notch be substantially tri-` angular in shape, the apex-of' the' substantially triangular contour thereof being at the top. In other words, the contour mu'st bef gradually narrowing or tapering and running substantially to a point at the top incontradistinctiont'o a ro und, semiclrcular or rectangular outline. The best results and extrenie accuracy in observation are attained by forming the notch as shown in the drawings; that is, as an acute triangular' notch having outwardly fiar-ingr sides and apex g g2 inclining outwardly and upwardly.

If the contents of the receptacle are for immediate consumptiomthey may be leftf in the receptacle, the cap being replaced after each withdrawal of a part thereof; I-f they are "to be preserved for future use, they may also remainv in the receptacle, the glycerine or other sealing liquid being replaced by a sealing .substance which solidilies, such as paraiiin, or they may be transferred to smaller receptacles, to be properly sealed.

` Vhere peaches are toV be treated, for eX- ample, sound and full ripe fruit is pressed into the previously properly sterilized receptacle, sugar being added if they are not suiiiciently sweet in such quantity that the"` opengroove.

juice will be at a level of about one inch below the mouth-rim. The groove or troughv isiilled 'to about one-half its depth before putting the slrinm'ierH in position as above' set' forth.

In the case of neservino fruit 'uice the juice from sound, sweet' berries is poured into the receptacle until the level is within about oneinch from the top, adding sugar where a high keeping quality7 is aimed at, the rest" of the treatment being as above.

Vegetables may be preserved in a similar manner in* my apparatus. For example, cabba'ges, after being and stringy parts'and quartered or shredded,

tobe"emptied of its contents of sealing opening of thisj closed channel stripped ofl the l stemarei packed' as tightly as possible into vthe receptacle,:whereupona 2'to 4i per cent solution' of' cooking salt in lgermefree' water' is pouredr over` the contents' until the level thereofy is" about` one .inchfromf the mouth'.l The rest ofthe operation isl as above set forth. l i Y 4 Asshotvn'in Figsil and 2,'the trough or groove a is provided at'A its bottom with a drainlport a@ which" permits the trough li uid, said port' being: sealed by a' stopper (()lr lute agvwhen the apparatus is in use.'

vItwill Abe observedr that" in` my apparatus tlie air'a'n'd the `gasesgenerated infthe recep-` tacle are carried oil1y from the highest part of the interior' to the vent or notch g'. y In Fig. 5 is representeda somewhat modifiedl form ofl apparatus whichdif'ers from the one already: describedgin that the low'erf surfaeeof the cap E is downwardlyconical, the highest Vpoints thereof beingv ati-the" periphery from which the gases' en?. the troughgbeing Vforced downward, until they ent'ertli'e vent g, toyissue therefrom as'iii'the form aliieadydescrihod. Y A further modification is represented in Figs. 6 and 7.-l Thepartsthere shown are the sameA as inl Figs. l and 2, except Vthat is interiorly dished conically, or' highestiat'itsmiddle portion; and tliat'an Lfshaped duct inf the shapeof 'a closed chan- InFig; 7, which is an enlarged' detail view in elevationof a-portionof cap E2, lookingI in the direetionof arrow 7 in Fig. 6, the exit f into the vent or notch g is shown.

Still" anotherI modification under my invention is illustrated in'Figsl 8 and 9. Thisy arrangement ist in all respects the same as in Fig@ 6, except that the duct f2 leading from the middle higliestportion of the und'er side of the' capI E3 islin thel shape of an The'communication of' this open groovewitlrtlie vent g is best seen in Fig. 9; an enlarged detail view of the cap Et in sectionalelevationon line 9-k-9, Fig. 8, looking ink the direction of the, arrows.

A Itis to be. noted' that in all of the forms' shown `in illustrating4 my invent-ion the higher points of tlie'interior of the receptacle are arranged in communication with the trough or grooveqa. In the. embodiment shown in F ig'. 5`the highest points are'at the periphery` and' these points, it 1will ybe seen, are Vin communication with said trough, so that 'the gasesv accumulating at these points will irstenter the same! In'each ofthe embodiments of my inven- ,nel or bore f extends through thematerial iso tion as shown in Fig. 6 and in Fig. 8, on the other hand, the gases accumulating at the middle portion will tend to enter the trough by following` the duct, f or f2, down to the vent g, thereby facilitating the accurate observation of the process.

lhile I have hereinabove described and shown in the drawing the details of construction aud arrangement of the scumftrap comprising a skimmer and a check device or plate, for the purpose of a full disclosure, I do not herein claim the invention embodied in these parts, since they constitute the subject-matter and are covered by claims forming part of my concurrent application filed May 28, 1927, Serial No. 195,126.

`What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A receptacle cover provided with a depending flange, said flange being provided with a substantially triangular notch, the apex of said notch being upwardly and out- Wardly inclined.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle formed with a trough or groove at its mouth, in combination with a cover formed with a flange formed with an upwardly narrowed notch and arranged to loosely lit. within the trough or groove, the top of the cover being interiorly of varying heights, the highest points being arranged to communicate with the trough.

3. A receptacle cover having a depending flange formed with a notch or Vent and with a duct leading from the under side of the top of the cap to the periphery at a point above the notch or vent.

4l. A receptacle cover having a depending `[lange formed with a notch or vent and with a duct leading from a middle portion of the under side of the top of the cover to the periphery and down to and terminating at the notch or vent.

5. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle provided with an annular trough or groove at its mouth, in combination with a cover formed with an annular depending rim arranged to fit loosely within the trough or groove and provided with a substantially triangular notch in the edge of said rim the apex of said notch being uppermost.

6. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle provided with an annular trough or groove at its mouth, in combination with a cover formed with an annular depending rini arranged to tit loosely within the trough or groove and provided with a substantially triangular notch in the edge of said rim, the apex of said notch being upwardly and outwardly inclined.

7. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle formed with a trough or groove at its mouth, in combination with a cover formed with a depending rim-provided with a vent to release small bubbles and arranged to loosely lit Within the trough or groove, the under side of the top of the cover being formed with a duct leading toward the inner periphery of the cover and to a point over the trough.

8. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle formed with a trough or groove at its mouth, in combination with a cover formed with a depending rim arranged to loosely iit within the trough or groove, the top of the cover being interiorly highest at an intermediate portion and formed with a duct leading from said middle portion to the inner periphery of the cover and to a point over the trough.

Si. In a device of the character set forth. a receptacle formed with an annular trough or groove at its mouth, in combination with a cover formed with a depending annular rim arranged to loosely fit within the trough or groove and formed with a substantially triangular notch at its edge, the under Side of the top of the cover being formed with a duct or channel running toward that point of the inner periphery of the cover below which the notch is located.

'10. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle formed with an annular trough or groove at its mouth, in combination with a cover having a depending annular rim ar ranged to fit loosely within the trough or groove and formed with a substantially triangular notch at its edge, the top of said cover being interiorly disbed or highest at an intermediate portion and provided with a duct leading from the highest point to the inner periphery of the rim and thence to the notch.

11. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle provided with a trough surrounding the same at its top, in combination with a cover having :L depending rim arranged to iit within the trough, said rim being provided at one point with a notch so formed as to release small gas bubbles, the rim being unbroken and continuous at other points.

12. A receptacle-cover provided with a depending flange provided at. one point with a single upwardly tapering notch, the remain ing portions of the flange being continuous and unbroken.

13. A receptacle formed with an upper encircling trough or groove, in combination with a cover having a depending encircling flange arranged to lit within said trough or groove and provided with a means of comniunication between the upper part of the interior of the cover and the trough, the rim of said cover being provided with a vent arranged to release small bubbles from the trough. A i

14. A receptacle formed with an upper encircling ytrough or groove, in combination with a cover having a depending encircling fiange arranged to engage Said trough or groove and provided with a single triangular notch having its apex uppermost, the re-- mainder of the Hange being continuous and unbroken.

15'. A receptacle formed with an upper encircling trough or groove, in combination with a cover having a depending encircling Hange arranged to engage said trough or groove and provided with a means of comthe remainder In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

CARL CHRISTOPH EMIL KERSTEN. 

